Officials going to Hope Island in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on a boat during the 2024 general elections.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
KAKINADA
The Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Forest Department is contemplating resuming boating operations to Hope Island, a sand spit that was naturally formed a few decades ago in the Kakinada Bay. In recent years, the boating operations have been suspended to the island after it became a safe breeding ground for Vulnerable Olive Ridley Turtles.
Hope Island also falls in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which mandates consent by the Forest Department to land on the island for any activity, including tourism.
Collector Sagili Shan Mohan speaking at a press conference in Kakinada on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Kakinada district Collector Sagili Shan Mohan said, “We are exploring possibilities to resume boating services to Hope Island from the Kakinada beach or harbour.”
A few years ago, the island was thrown open for tourism activities from two directions — Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and Kakinada Harbour. The island is inhabited by a group of fisherfolk who have been rehabilitated but continue to live on the island.
On the maintenance of the NTR beach in Kakinada, Mr. Shan Mohan said the Kakinada Urban Development Authority sanctioned ₹3.5 crore for deployment of staff and maintenance of the beach.
Published – March 07, 2025 09:13 pm IST